GK One-Liners

What: Elections were held on 16 March 2026 for 37 Rajya Sabha seats, conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) has a total sanctioned strength of 245 seats — 233 elected and 12 nominated by the President of India. Each member serves a six-year term, with one-third of members retiring every two years, making the Rajya Sabha a permanent house that is never dissolved.

How: Rajya Sabha elections use the Proportional Representation–Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV) method. The electorate consists exclusively of elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) — not the general public. Votes are weighted based on state population. The ECI supervises the entire process under Article 80 of the Constitution read with the Fourth Schedule.

Why: Rajya Sabha composition and election mechanics are among the most frequently tested Polity topics in UPSC Prelims. Key anchors: total seats (245 = 233 elected + 12 nominated), voting method (PR-STV), electorate (MLAs only), term (6 years), and rotation (1/3 every 2 years). Also relevant to GS-II Mains on Parliamentary institutions and federal structure.

What: Renowned Tamil lyricist and poet Vairamuthu was conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025 — India’s highest literary honour. He is the third Tamil writer to receive this award, and the first in 20 years. The award comprises a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), and a citation. Previous Tamil recipients were P.V. Akilan (1975) and D. Jayakanthan (2002).

How: The Jnanpith Award is conferred annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organisation for outstanding contributions to Indian literature in any of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Vairamuthu is celebrated for his prolific film lyric writing — winning the National Film Award for Best Lyrics seven times — and for literary works including the novel Kallikattu Ithikasam, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003.

Why: Jnanpith Award questions appear regularly in UPSC Prelims. Key anchors: 60th edition, administered by Bharatiya Jnanpith, prize components (₹11 lakh + Vagdevi statuette), Tamil lineage (3rd winner after Akilan and Jayakanthan), and Vairamuthu’s seven National Film Awards for lyrics. Connects to GS-I cultural heritage and literary traditions.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested an upgraded version of its CE20 Cryogenic Engine, achieving 22 tonnes of thrust — up from its earlier 19-tonne rating. The test was conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Research Centre (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The CE20 engine powers the C32 Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), India’s heaviest operational rocket.

How: Cryogenic engines use liquid hydrogen (LH2) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidiser, both stored at extremely low temperatures. The thrust upgrade was achieved through design improvements in the turbopump and combustion chamber. The enhanced CE20 will boost LVM3’s payload capacity to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), supporting heavier commercial and strategic satellites.

Why: ISRO rocket and engine developments are standard UPSC Prelims fixtures. Key anchors: CE20 engine thrust (22 tonnes, upgraded from 19T), associated rocket (LVM3), upper stage (C32), test facility (IPRC Mahendragiri). Links to GS-III topics on space technology, India’s commercial space ambitions, and the broader context of Gaganyaan and OneWeb satellite launches using LVM3.

What: Phase VI of India’s mandatory gold hallmarking scheme, administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), added 7 new districts — Rupnagar (Punjab), Banda (Uttar Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gomati (Tripura), Katihar (Bihar), Beawar (Rajasthan), and Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) — bringing the total number of covered districts to 380. Mandatory gold hallmarking was first launched in Phase I in June 2021.

How: Hallmarking certifies the purity of gold jewellery using the BIS Hallmark — a unique HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number assigned to each piece. Jewellers must register with BIS and get articles tested at Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs). The phased rollout prioritises districts with high gold trading volumes, gradually covering the entire country.

Why: Gold hallmarking is relevant to UPSC GS-III (consumer protection, quality standards, commodity regulation) and Prelims (BIS role, HUID, phased rollout timeline). India is the world’s second-largest gold consumer, making hallmarking a significant consumer welfare and trade regulation measure. Key anchors: 380 districts total, Phase I from June 2021, administered by BIS under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

What: National Vaccination Day is observed on 16 March every year to commemorate the first administration of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in India under the Pulse Polio Programme on 16 March 1995. The Pulse Polio Programme was launched by the Government of India in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio) from India.

How: The OPV was administered to children under five years of age through nationwide immunisation booths on fixed National Immunisation Days (NIDs). The campaign used a two-dose strategy and achieved near-universal coverage through door-to-door follow-up. India was officially declared polio-free by the WHO in March 2014 — a landmark public health achievement.

Why: This topic connects to UPSC GS-II (health governance, government schemes, WHO collaboration) and GS-I (social issues). Key anchors: 16 March 1995 (first OPV dose under Pulse Polio), India declared polio-free in 2014, collaborating agencies (WHO + UNICEF). Distinguish from Mission Indradhanush (2014) which is a broader immunisation drive — not the origin of National Vaccination Day.

What: Jose Antonio Kast was sworn in as the 38th President of Chile, succeeding President Gabriel Boric Font. Kast leads the Republican Party of Chile (Partido Republicano de Chile), a right-wing political party. India was represented at the inauguration by Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, signalling active diplomatic engagement with Latin America.

How: Chile is a presidential republic on the western coast of South America. Kast won the 2025 Chilean presidential election against the incumbent left-leaning administration’s candidate. India and Chile share diplomatic ties including cooperation in lithium — Chile holds the world’s largest lithium reserves, a strategically critical mineral for India’s electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage ambitions.

Why: Relevant to UPSC GS-II (India’s foreign policy, bilateral relations with Latin America) and Prelims (Chile — capital Santiago, lithium reserves, Republican Party). India’s presence at inaugurations via MoS MEA reflects its growing engagement with resource-rich nations. Chile’s lithium significance connects directly to GS-III topics on critical minerals, EV policy, and Atmanirbhar Bharat in clean energy.